"That is not my tale to recount. It is my brother's.
"I can tell you of my last lover and the first time we met. He was gaunt and bruised, but I saw him hobble towards me. He headed towards me, he didn't know me at the time. His eyes were fixed on the ground, at his feet. Poor thing, he must have been so tired!
"I can only imagine what he's been through, and one can only wonder what happened to him before that night.
"I pitied him, somewhat. Like one would pity an injured stray, perhaps. It was something about him that made him stand out amongst the crowd that surrounded him. That same something that entangled my interest around him so quickly. He shone, glimmered like steel in sunlight. It was as if the rest of the world paled while he was around.
"He stumbled closer and I noticed that his wrists bled. The ferrous scent of his blood filled my nostrils as he stepped up on the podium, close to where I stood.
He brushed against my elbow! Oh, it was such a frivolous and childish excitement that rushed through me, like he was my reason for being during that brief moment of contact. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"I didn't try to be seductive, but alas, I much fear that I couldn't help myself. I gave him my best disarming smile I found the strength to muster in that instant.
"Then I thought to myself, this is my moment. The only chance I may get before I lose him to the grey, loud crowd that enveloped him. Without a flicker of hesitation, I lifted my hand to his neck to stop him in his tracks.
"He looked into my eyes, with his tired, bloodshot eyes. I maintained my smile for as long as I could.
He didn't seem to resist my attempt as I leant towards him to kiss his lips.
"His lips were chapped, but it felt as if my kiss would instantly heal them and restore them back to their full unbroken beauty.
"I visited him three days later, to that same spot. He was still there, waiting and swaying slightly like a thin branch in a breeze.
"I miss his eyes, they were so pretty. They should do something about the crows around here.
One crow in the sky then, even,
ReplyDeleteTwo eyes in a crow -
Three days too late
Four you to save him,
Five known you to be ungentle before, using
Six as a weapon, but never quite so vile. Let us hope he is in
Seven now, gone from the senseless
Eight that locked him in your pillory, then at your least be-
Nine, you let him rot, a forgot-
Ten thing.
0, you will pay someday.
The wind whipped through the gulley with the sullen force of an unreleased storm. The soldiers were huddled in the shelter of a cave playing dice when the man came. His eyes were like pits, dark rings around them spoke of sleepless nights and crying. He opened his mouth to talk, full thick lips much given to pouting. They knew him and told him what he wanted to know, were only a little surprised when he fell down on his knees and cried.
ReplyDeleteThey invited him close to the fire. The Decurion had a glint in his eye and offered the young man some wine and pulled him close. The other two guardsmen pretended to ignore this and continued with their gambling, rolling a set of bone-carved dice over a small collection of tattered clothing, a switch of brambles and a handful of thick iron nails.
The young man froze when he saw the prizes and with a quick movement he snatched one of the bloody nails and ran out into the wind and the rain and the enveloping night.